Klopp meets family of Sean Cox on Reds' visit to capital

Jurgen Klopp and members of Sean Cox’s family display a banner paying tribute to the Meath man

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has visited the family of Sean Cox, who received a devastating brain injury during an unprovoked attack outside Anfield last April.

Klopp was in Dublin to see his team beat Napoli 5-0 in a pre-season friendly at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

The attack on the Dunboyne father-of-three before the first leg of the club's Champions League semi-final made the headlines on both sides of the Irish Sea when Mr Cox was set upon by a group of Roma supporters, who charged a group of Liverpool fans gathered outside the stadium.

Surgery

Mr Cox (53) and his brother were waiting outside the landmark Albert pub ahead of the game with Roma when the attack happened.

The Meath man had to undergo emergency surgery on a bleed on the brain and has remained seriously ill since.

Liverpool fan Sean Cox was attacked outside Anfield

He spent weeks in hospital in Liverpool before being transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he has remained since.

Mr Lombardi was also charged with wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Cox.

After the game on Saturday, Liverpool players paid a special and emotional tribute to Mr Cox, when they gathered in the middle of the pitch and paraded a banner in front of their 51,000-strong support.

Klopp visited his family to express his continued support for them and Mr Cox since the attack.

After the incident at Anfield, the Reds boss spoke at a press conference to express his shock.

Ugly

"I think the game showed the beauty of the game during it. It also showed ugly parts before it," he said.

"When I heard, I cannot describe my emotions. That should never happen, before or in the future.

"We all have to do everything to ensure that doesn't happen again.

"Nobody has a solution but it is unbelievable that something like this can happen. All our prayers are with Sean and his family."

During the second leg with Roma, a jersey from Mr Cox's local Dunboyne GAA club was hung in the Liverpool dressing room.